Columbia Correctional Institution – Florida

Do you know someone locked up at Columbia Correctional Institution? Columbia Correctional Institution is a correctional facility in the Florida state prison system, which is part of the Florida Department of Corrections. This site will tell you all about anything one might want to know about Columbia Correctional Institution,like: How to locate an inmate here. Visitation policies and procedures. The prison’s address and phone number. How to send mail and money to an inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution. And much, much more.

Contact Information

Below you will find the mailing address and street address for Columbia Correctional Institution. Use the mailing address if you are going to mail a package or letter to a prisoner there, and use the street address if you need to know the location of the facility.

Mailing Address

You should also read the Inmate Mail and Package Procedures heading on this page before you send something to an inmate to make sure that you properly write the address, and follow the appropriate protocol for sending a package or letter. If you do not use the correct directions, the package or letter could not get to the inmate.

Address

Phone Number and Fax Number

Map and Directions

Use this address if you are going to visit a prisoner. Be sure to also read the Inmate Visitation Procedures and Inmate Visitation Schedule sections further down on this page before you visit someone in prison at Columbia Correctional Institution.

Directions

Phone Number

Prisoners don’t have phones in their cells, so you can’t call the inmate, but, there are cases when it is useful to know the phone number to the facility.

(386) 754-7600

Columbia Correctional Institution inmates can sometimes make calls using various methods:

Calling Cards

Collect Calls

Dedicated Phone Line

Prison Calling Plan

Fax Number

Columbia Correctional Institution inmates don’t have faxes, so you won’t get to fax a letter to the inmate, but there are some times when it might be helpful to know the fax number to Columbia Correctional Institution.

(386) 754-7602

Email Address

The email address below is the main email address for Columbia Correctional Institution. You won’t be able to email inmates using this email. If you are going to send an email to an inmate, read the Inmate Email heading below.

Inmate and Staff Statistics

Inmate Email

In order to send email to a prisoner you must use an exact procedure to ensure that the email is received by the inmate.

Inmate Internet Access

Inmates can’t access the internet.

Inmate Mail and Package Procedures

There are special rules that are necessary to follow when sending a package or letter to a state prisoner. If you don’t then what you sent might not make it there.

Before you send a package or letter, be sure to read the information below:

Mail Monitoring

Institution guards will open and read and inspect all received general packages and mail. Received general correspondence may be read as frequently as is deemed necessary to ensure security or monitor any problems confronting inmates.

How to Address a Letter to an Inmate

Below is the format for how you need to address a letter or package to a state prison inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution:

Inmate Money

Each state correctional institution has a Commissary that serves to provide prisoners a bank type account for prisoner money and for buying items not issued regularly by the Bureau of Prisons.

How to Send an Inmate Money

Family, friends, or other sources can deposit money to prisoner’s Commissary accounts by sending it by the U.S. Postal Service and Western Union.

Via U.S. Postal Service: Inmates’ families and friends are able to send inmates funds through the postal service and must send money to the following address and follow the directions listed below:

The deposit must be in a money order made out to the inmate’s full committed name and complete eight-digit register number. You should use a postal money order, since all non-postal money orders processed through the National Lockbox will be placed on a 15-day hold period, in which the inmate will not have access to the money. The Bureau of Prisons will return money orders that do not have valid prisoner information provided the envelope you sent it in has a valid return address. Cash and personal checks won’t be deposited so don’t send checks or cash.

Inmate Locator

State prisoners are often transported to various prison facilities in the state, so you might need to look up the current location of an inmate using the inmate locator. Click on the link here to look up an state prison inmate.Inmate Search

Inmate Visitation

Before you visit Columbia Correctional Institution, you must know the following:

Visitation Schedule

Visitation Rules

Visitation Application

Inmate Visitation Schedule

Inmate Visitor Procedures

Every prison has its own rules for visitation and they change regularly. The information below could be changed when you are reading this, so be sure to also read Columbia Correctional Institution’s official website to read the most up to date visitation procedures.

Visitation Sign-In and Check-In

The visitation officer will ensure every visitor signs the prison visitors log upon entering the correctional facility and also when they leave.

Identification Required

Positive picture ID of all visitors will be required. The best forms of identification are Driver’s License and Social Security Card; although, a state issued picture ID is OK.

For all of the things listed below, check out the main prison facility website because this information is changed all the time:

Visitation Rules

Visitation Dress Code

Things You Can and Cannot Take to Visitation

Special Rules For Childred, Special Visits, Pastoral or Attorney Visits

Website

Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

Victims have the right to protection from the accused.

Victims have the right to notification.

Victims have the right to attend proceedings.

Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.

Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.

Victims have the right to restitution.

Victims have the right to a speedy trial.

Victims have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

Spouses and children of all victims.

Parents and guardians of minor victims.

Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.

Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.